Here are seven reasons why the 1970-71 Ashes series was significant.
50 years ago, today, one of the most intriguing Test series began in Brisbane.
Appearances can be deceptive. The build-up was not promising as the aged touring MCC side was dubbed “Dad’s Army” and Australia’s most recent series was a 4-0 drubbing by South Africa.
In addition to this, that summer half a century ago included five draws and two English victories in Tests in which the scoring rate was often funereal.
Is it even worth remembering such a dull series between two seemingly second-rate teams?
Yet, the drama in the series and the impact that it had on cricket make it worthwhile to look back at the 1970-71 Ashes series. Here’s why.
1. The only seven-Test match series
Hang on, why were there seven Tests in a series for the only time ever?
Originally six were agreed to, but the scheduled third Test at the MCG was abandoned without a ball being bowled after three days of rain. In place of the match against Victoria in January another Test was included.
In addition, on the scheduled fifth day of the original Test, the first-ever one-day international match was hastily organised.
It proved a success as 46,000 turned up and the attitude of the batsmen was much more positive. In the 40 over-a-side game, Australia chased the target of 190 and in losing only five wickets and they had their only win of the summer.
2. The contrasting tale of two captains
Ray Illingworth was selected as captain for the tour over Colin Cowdrey. The latter had difficulty with the role of vice-captain as his highest score of just 40 in the series suggests. Illingworth became the first captain to retain the Ashes in Australia since Jardine in the bodyline series.
Not that this was achieved with ease. He led a walk-off in the final Test in Sydney. After John Snow had felled Terry Jenner with a bouncer, the English fast bowler was manhandled by a spectator while fielding on the boundary. Illingworth had had enough.
Bill Lawry was averaging 40.5 with the bat up to the final Test when the series was still alive. He had carried his bat for 60 not out as all fell around him.
Yet, the selectors chose to drop an Australian captain during a series for the first time. Infamously, Lawry found out about this via the radio and his replacement Ian Chappell declared, “The bastards will never get me like that.”
3. Umpiring controversies
Only three umpires officiated in the series. The accusations of home-town bias by Lou Rowan, Tom Brooks and Max O’Connell were aired especially when it was realised that the English failed to have one LBW decision ruled in their favour.
The not out decision when Keith Stackpole was clearly run out on 18 in the first Test in Brisbane set the scene for acrimonious relations between the tourists and the umpires. When he went on to score 207, the decision seemed even more controversial.
Rowan was forced to apologise to Illingworth after his incorrect refusal to allow for the roller to be used in the second Test in the first-ever Test match at the WACA in Perth. Geoffrey Boycott’s throwing his bat on the ground after being given run out in the sixth Test was further evidence of the problems.
4. The debuts of three Australian cricket legends
Greg Chappell made 108 in his first Test, while Dennis Lillee captured five wickets on his debut in the fifth Test.
Rod Marsh played all six Tests and despite equalling the highest score for an Australian Test wicketkeeper when he was left on 92 not out, his unreliable keeping earned the nickname “Iron Gloves”.
5. Australia used 19 players
One Test wonders included Ross Duncan who made 3 and took 0 for 30; Ken Eastwood replaced his fellow Victorian Lawry and scored just 5 and 0 (but received two baggy greens by mistake).
Tony Dell debuted in the final Test and played just one other. Kerry O’Keeffe was just 21 when chosen. The most interesting of all was perhaps Allan “Froggy” Thomson whose unusual bowling action earned him cult status but his 12 wickets at 54.5 meant this was a short-lived Test career.
(Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
6. England’s stars
The Sussex poet, John Snow, whose 7 for 40 at the SCG can easily be forgotten amidst the drama of the walk-off; Boycott averaged 93.85 while compiling 657 runs. He and John Edrich and Brian Luckhurst proved difficult stumbling blocks for the Australian attack.
7. The legacy of the series
Snow proved that England teams with at least one fast bowler like himself, Larwood and Tyson are necessary for a successful Ashes campaign in Australia. The English eyes are on the 2021 Ashes down under with the Jofra Archer and Mark Wood being prepared to assault the home team.
Most significantly, Ian Chappell’s ascendancy to the captaincy led to the Chappell era. A more aggressive and united Australian team resulted under his leadership which was going to show fight in the 1972 Ashes series at home and then a period of great success leading up to the start of World Series Cricket.
And then there’s the matter of international one-day cricket being born among everything else that occurred in that summer.
The appearance of a dull, forgettable series fails to tell the full story of the 50-year-old series. What are your memories of the 1970-71 series, Roarers?
Tony
Roar Guru
A great read, thanks. One of the bowlers in my cricket team at the time tried to emulate Froggy Thompson's bowling action with a predictability disastrous physical results. If only he'd waited a few tests and tried to emulate DKL instead.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
You must be getting on a bit if you were old enough to drink in 1970, especially considering the drinking age limit was 21 back then.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Just one nit pick: Jardine and Illingworth didn’t retain the Ashes here, they regained them as in both cases Australia were in possession of the Ashes when England came out here in 1932-33 and 1970-71. On a different note, one team having more lbws than the other or none at all doesn’t mean anything in principle. I once umpired a 50 over game where the first side was bowled out for 94 and the second side lost 4 wickets getting the runs … of the 14 wickets, 9 were bowled and 5 were lbw. This means there were no catches or run outs, so nothing sinister. Having said that, in a 6 test series, and a bowler of Snows pace, not dismissing any batsmen lbw does seem like an anomaly. But having said that how many wickets taken by England were bowled? Or were they almost exclusively catches? On a totally different note, I still don’t see why the 50 over match between Australia and South Africa on the 1966-67 tour there should not receive official recognition in the history of international limited overs cricket.
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
Graham McKenzie had broken Boycott's arm in the tour match with Western Australia.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Helps that our family was full of cricket nuts
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
You’ve summed it up very accurately. Snow may have been under rated at home but he certainly made a big impact here and anyone over the age of 65 remembers him well. You might be a little harsh on Cowdrey. He was called out of retirement in 1974 to face Lillee and Thomson at their ferocious peak of speed. He looked like the portly middle aged gentleman that he was but he acquitted himself better 5han most in Mike Denness’ team.
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
As I sit here in my air conditioned home watching a five foot OLED TV of the first ODI of the summer, my memory of the 1971 series is dim. We watched that series on a black and white PYE TV, maybe a 20 inch screen, propped up on the end of the public bar at my local. How easy it was to entertain us. That series definitely opened up a new era that saw Australia dominate Test cricket for the next decade.
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
At the SCG in the final Test, Boycott didn't actually play. I don't know why. Also at the SCG, in the third Test, Boycott made 77 in his first innings. He was then caught by Gleeson at fine leg, from Connolly's bowling. It was day one, and he and Luckhurst had added 116 in 140 minutes. So his wicket probably fell 20 minutes after lunch. Amazing what an 11-year-old can remember, 50 years later ! I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning.
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
On day two Australia declared at 9-493, and at stumps England was 0-28 from 11 eight-ball overs with Boycott 10 not out. 66 overs were bowled during the day, so those 11 overs would equate to around one hour's play. Boycott was dismissed very early on the third day, for 12 in 69 minutes after facing 69 balls. So he can't have lasted much longer at the crease. http://www.sportstats.com.au/zArchive/1970s/1970AE/1970AE4.pdf Acknowledgements to Charles Davis.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
As well, the seventh test was controversial for other matters than on the field. The English players did not want a seventh test as their tour contracts were for 6 tests. Money wise a seventh test was needed so it went ahea despite objections from the touring players.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
It's an interesting thing declaring when a bloke is near 100. In this case apparently it was an hour before stumps on day 2. It's difficult to tell if England lost a wicket before stumps. Boycott was first out at 1/40 and had faced 69 balls. Double is 138. About 17 x 8 ball overs. Would they have bowled that many in 45 mins? Anyway, I've always been of the opinion 100s make teams (and supporters) happy and they commence bowling with extra enthusiasm. Maybe this was an unhappy team?
johnb
Guest
The averages from this series make interesting reading - Cricinfo doesn't have them that I can see but Wikipedia does - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970%E2%80%9371_Ashes_series This was the first time I took a real interest in cricket, at age 10, and despite the 4 draws and a washout, it still managed to spawn a continuing love for test cricket. Strangely I don't remember much on the Australian side - Bill Lawry batting would be an exception. Sadly and despite him bowling a lot of overs, I have no memory of Froggy Thomson bowling (and have never found him on youtube). What I do remember is Boycott, Edrich and Luckhurst batting and batting and batting, and especially John Snow bowling. As it turns out, the averages suggest those memories weren't too far wrong - the 3 English batsmen filling the top 3 spots in the averages, and Snow way in front in all bowling categories (if you discount part timers or those who only played once in the series). 31 wickets with second place in the aggregates Derek Underwood well back on 16. It was inconceivable to me at the time that Show didn't dominate cricket for years to come - perhaps the clue is that he bowled more overs in the series than anyone, including Underwood (albeit from one fewer tests). No rotation or concern about overbowling back then (although you did get rest days of course). Near 40 eight ball overs in each of 6 tests in an Australian summer for a fast bowler nearing 30 takes a toll. Footage of Snow on youtube is well worth watching. Those bowling averages scream the problem for Australia - on the surface all looks pretty good, with Australians in the top 3 spots, and 7 in the top 9. Unfortunately, none of those 7 played more than 2 games. John Gleeson was the top Australian bowler who played more than 2 tests - and in 5 games he took 14 wickets at 43. Pace bowlers who played at least 3 tests averaged over 50, for not many wickets. Ugly stuff. But a changing of the guard indeed - last tests for McKenzie and Thomson, almost the last for Gleeson, a name from the past in Alan Connolly not heard from again.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I was at the ground with my mum the day Snow was challenged and they walked off. She would go to Shield games and knit using the family member pass and I convinced her to take me for my first day of test cricket. My recollection isn’t crystal clear as I was 11 but, even at that age, I was aware of the enormity of the event. Does my memory deceive me or was Boycott out hooking Connelly before lunch for a score near 80? Caught by Gleeson. Not sure it was before lunch but that’s what my memory tells me - seems unlikely though eh?
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
No drop-ins at the SCG, Brisbane, Hobart or Canberra. Only in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
Thanks Pat, I wasn't old enough at the time to remember this series, but have read two other things. Boycott announced to his team-mates that he'd worked out how to pick Gleeson, but then refused to share the secret with them. And players and officials were at loggerheads about whether the washed-out match should count for caps, superannuation, match fees and retirement funds. Interesting that G Chappell, Lillee and Marsh both debuted in the same series, and retired after the same match. And no doubt Cowdrey, Edrich, Fletcher and Luckhurst enjoyed the Australian bowling far more during this series, than four years later !
Ian
Roar Rookie
Your absolutely correct Sheek.Apparently the Aussie team were incensed that they hadn't declared earlier.From reports,Bill declared straight after a drinks break.Rod Marsh wrote that he never held it against Bill but was just glad that he'd scored some runs to justify his place in the team.His wicketkeeping had up till that point been dreadful...Irongloves!!!!
Ian
Roar Rookie
A very enjoyable post and comments.I've read a lot about this series over the years.What,in my opinion,I learned about it was... 1..With a bit more positive cricket,England would/should have won more comfortably than they did.The Australians really weren't vey good and with a more aggresive attitude,England really should have given them a hiding. 2..Geoffrey Boycott never batted as well again as he did in that series...By all accounts,he was simply magnificent.I know he's an easy man to criticise but his batting on that tour was superb. 3..John Snow has to be one of the most underated fast bowlers of all time.Sure,he could be an awkward so and so but when his mind was on the job,he was superb.I gather he got fed up with the defensive cricket of that area and the relentless grind of playing county cricket. 4..Colin Cowdrey was out of sorts on this tour.Mainly because he had the major sulks about not being named captain.Instead of knuckling down and being a team man,he apparently spent most of the tour bouncing from one cocktail or dinner party to another.He rarely turned up for practice and was justifiably dropped for the later half of the series. 5..The Umpiring was absolutely diabolical.England didn't receive a single LBW in the 6 Tests...Think about that for a moment! 6..Ian Chappell,being made captain,was the best thing that happened to Australian cricket.He made up his mind that if his teams were going to lose,they were going to play attractive cricket while doing it. 7..On a different subject,I've always heard that one of Ian's regrets was never playing South Africa again.That 4-0 defeat in SA was,in my opinion,one of the most overrated series wins of all time.Sure they had some great players but the Aussies had just come from a 3 month tour of India winning the 5 Test Match Series 3-1.The next thing,they're in SA playing another 4 Test Matches in the Republic.Players today whine if they're away from home for a month but can you imagine 3 solid months in India (in 1970!) and then being forced to tour a cricket hungry SA for another 2/3 months? No internet or wives on tour in those days.No wonder they got thrashed.How many careers did that tour kill? Anyway,keep the posts coming.I'm in cold,lock downed England at the moment...not too much joy to be had here at the moment I can tell you!
sheek
Roar Guru
Paul, Correct. Lawry did declare when Marsh was 92no, & at that stage no Aussie keeper had reached a century in a test. Marsh still ended up being the first in 1972. But it's drawing a long bow to suggest Lawry was dropped for this. He was sacked because the selectors realised the Aussie team needed energising, or re-energising. The team was wallowing in self-pity, & a circuit breaker was needed to get them playing again with vigour. I believe Lawry was let down by some of his key team mates who had lost their focus.
sheek
Roar Guru
Pat, Illy captained England against RoW in 1970, & it was pretty obvious he was going to lead England to Australia. Illy had a wonderful personal series against RoW, while Cowdrey did just okay from memory, averaging 30 from 8 innings. He was returning from a long layoff. Cowds had plenty of time to accept the captaincy to Australia had eluded him. In those situations you can one of two things. You can toughen up, or sulk, which is what Cowds did.
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Great article Pat. I was a nipper at this stage and a bit too young to remember the series BUT there was quite a bit of folklore surrounding it. The number one talking point in my family was Bill Lawry declaring while Rod Marsh was on 92. My aunties/uncles, grandparents and parents would always talk about this one point. I think no wicket keeper had scored a test match century at the time. My grandfather went on about this for YEARS! They always reckon Lawry ended up getting shafted because of it. Great memories!